Lifter for hot or cold containers



June 3, 1947. w, "3, KNAPP 2,421,509

LIFTER FOR HOT OR COLD CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 3, 1947. w. c. KNAPP 2,421,509

LIFTER FOR HOT OR COLD CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 12, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IUA'NCAIVAPP MWJQO/W Patented June 3, 1947 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE mrrna FOR nor on COLD CONTAINERS 4 William 0. Knapp, Columbia, Pa.

7 A Application January 12, 1945 Serial No. 572,497

1 Claim. (Cl. 294-31) This invention relates generally to lifters or tongs for lifting jars, cans, preserving glasses and like containers in the processing of various foods in which extreme temperatures of heat and cold are required, injury to the processors hands being avoided in the use of the lifters for the reason that the processor need not touch or grasp the containers directly in removing the same from the processer.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates improvements in lifting tongs suitable for the aforedescribed purpose whereby the handling of the containers is facilitated and rendered more safe.

Among other objects of the invention is the provision of scissorlike handles for the tongs and a jaw structure of greater strength therefor whereby the containers may be gripped more firmly thereby, thus promoting increased safety to the processor and substantially obviating the possibility of the containers slipping out of contact with the jaws.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention are those implied from or inherent in the novel construction of the lifting tongs as will become more clearly apparent as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a View in elevation of a lifting tongs constructed in accordance with one form of the invention and shown clamped to a container in a manner to lift the same,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the lifting tongs shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the lifting tongs shown in Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of a lifting tongs constructed in accordance with a second form of the invention and illustrates the manner of clamping the same to a container,

Figure 6 is a sectional view as seen along the line 6-6 of Figure 5,

Figure '7 is a side elevation of the lifting tongs shown in Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the lifting tongs shown in Figure 5, and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a portion of a lifting tongs constructed in accordance with a third form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figures 1 through 4 thereof, the numeral I0 generally designates a lifting tongs according to one form of the invention. Tongs l0 comprises a pair of identical levers disposed in crossed relation in the manner of the well-known ice tongs and pivotally joined as at H by a, suitable transverse pin, rivet, screw or the like. Each of the levers comprises a flattened surface I2 of sufficient area within the vicinity of pivot II to insure a firm joint between the levers and at the same time to provide sufficient freedom of movement therebetween as the tongs is operated.

The flat portions l2 of the levers define a figure X when the tongs are assembled, the top portion of the X terminating preferably in rounded upwardly extending and substantially parallel handle portions l3 of sufficient length to provide adequate leverage and to insure that the processors hands are at a safe distance from the processer when the grip portions M of the tongs are grasped. Each of the handle grips I4 is preferably formed in a loop which lies substantially within the plane of the flattened portion 12 formed integrally therewith, thus providing a scissor-like handle grip adapted to accommodate one or more fingers of the hand, as is desired. The nicety of such handle grips in applying pressure to the tongs is readily apparent.

The lower portions of the X defined by flat portions l2 terminate preferably in rounded downwardly extending and substantially parallel jaw portions I 5 which are spaced sufliciently apart to clear substantially all processing containers of standard sizes, a Mason jar [6 being shown to illustrate the proportions of a satisfactory tongs.

Each of jaws l5 has laterally extended therefrom and secured thereto or integrally formed therewith a preferably rounded and arcuate member I! adapted snugly to engage the jar [6 below the rubber washer seat It) thereof when pressure is applied to the tongs.

Referring now to Figures 5 through 8, the numeral 29 generally designates another lifting tongs constructed according to an alternate form of the invention, tongs 20 being generally similar to tongs I0 except that the jaws 2| of tongs 20 are bifurcated and both bifurcated ends are secured to or formed integrally with the arcuate members l'l intermediate the ends thereof, thereby to provide an inherently stronger jaw structure adapted to distribute the pressure applied to the arcuate members more evenly over the length thereof, and to grip the container more firmly.

Tongs 22 disclosed in Figure 9 are generally similar to tongs 20 except that the bifurcated jaws 23 of tongs '22 are secured to the ends of arcuate members I! or formed integrally therewith, as the case may be.

While but three embodiments of the invention have been disclosed which give satisfactory results, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that additional forms of the invention may be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim as myinvention:

Lifting tongs comprising a pair of arcuate jaws, each having backwardly parallel portions, said backwardly parallel portions being provided with upstanding parallel portions; said upstanding parallel portions having inclined converging and meeting portions, a pair of handleshaving crossed and pivotally connected portions, each'of the said crossed portions merging with a correspondin meeting point of the converged and inclined portions.

WILLIAM C. KNAPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Number Name Date 164,968 Bower June 29, 1875 799,421 Tscharner Sept. 12, 1905 IL-260,111 Wickersham Mar. 19, 1918 1,343,518 7 Masker June 15, 1920 1,588,774 Sallac June 15, 1926 2,*038;641 =Buskirk Apr. 28, 1936 

